Two men have been arrested and charged with federal sex trafficking crimes in Arkansas, as part of a conspiracy that lasted nearly six years.
Tommy Handy, also known as ‘Tom Tom’, and his nephew Everett Cooney, aka ‘Bear’, were indicted by a federal grand jury in Little Rock, Ark., for conspiracy to commit sex trafficking and sex trafficking. The indictment alleges that the duo used force, fraud, and coercion to cause juvenile girls and adult women to engage in commercial sex acts, from January 2002 to May 2008.
According to the indictment, Handy and Cooney benefitted financially from the conspiracy, with Handy also facing charges for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
If convicted, the men could face a maximum sentence of life in prison and fines of more than $1 million. An indictment is only an allegation, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The prosecution of human trafficking offenses is a top priority of the Justice Department. In Fiscal Year 2008, a record number of both labor trafficking and sex trafficking cases were filed.
The case will be prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe J. Volpe and Civil Rights Division Trial Attorney Jim Felte. The charges are the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI.
The indictment highlights the ongoing struggle against human trafficking in Arkansas and across the country. Law enforcement agencies are working tirelessly to bring traffickers to justice and protect victims of this heinous crime.
As the investigation continues, the community is left to wonder how such a conspiracy could go on for so long. The arrest of Handy and Cooney is a step in the right direction, but more needs to be done to combat this growing threat.
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Key Facts
- State: Arkansas
- Category: Sex Crimes|Human Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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